Tip #1) Recognize the fact that indoor only cats have no choices of their own in life.

They are completely reliant on what we offer them. We choose their litter box size, shape, location and litter substrate. We choose where they are fed, what they are fed out of, and what foods they are offered. We choose their toys, their beds, their bowls, and everything within their lives. Cats have few choices of their own. They would be happier given more choices of their own and once owners understand that and begin to expand their options, cats would remain healthier and happier.

Tip #2) Bring the outdoors in

Cats are held captive within four walls for their entire lives. Open the blinds, open the windows, grow grass, bring leaves and branches in for them to smell. Again for owners to be more aware of the fact that their cats have never walked on grass or soil, experienced changes in temperature, smelled different smells, or had the ability to walk around the block to explore new surroundings. Owners should evaluate every opportunity to enhance their indoors cat’s lives by bringing new things into the home. Build catios, window units or other alternative opportunities for cats to experience the outdoors. At a minimum place window seats around the house (off the ground), build vertical spaces for them to climb, train them to walk on leashes, erect cat proof fences, etc.

Tip #3) Play, play, play and more play

Indoor cats are bored, depressed and inactive. Owners don’t generally play with their cats daily. Cats need exercise, mental stimulation and fun. Having a basket of toys for cats is not enough. Owners should actively engage with their pets by using wand toys, laser lights, throwing blankets over furniture to create tents, rotating toys daily. Adding silvervine, catnip, and valerian to their arsenal of toys will give cats new experiences. Using foraging toys for food rewards, making cats hunt for some of their food all help to stimulate their body and mind.

Tip #4) Lots of scratch posts – both vertical and horizontal for cats to scratch on.

I am completely opposed to declawing (having never performed one in my entire career). Scratching is a form of communication and also gives cats the ability to stretch their muscles. It is important they have great areas and substrates to scratch on. It makes them happy.

Tip #5) Seek out cat only veterinarians

Don’t allow a veterinarian who declaws to treat your cat. Take your cat to a vet at least once a year for a good physical exam and blood work. Cats are notorious for hiding pain and illness and if an owner thinks their cat is sick, they are likely very sick. Pay attention to any changes (no matter how small) and seek veterinary care immediately. Age is not a disease and many owners ignore signs of illness as due to advanced aging. That is not in a cat’s best interest. Owners need to advocate on behalf of their pets and insure good medical care. Seek second opinions. Good veterinarians encourage owners to do so and are never offended by it.

Tip #6) Cats need wet food more than dry

Wet food is lower in calories and higher in protein and moisture. It is extremely important to feed cats at least 5-6 times daily. Don’t feed one brand or diet only. Variety is the spice of life and cats are used to eating birds, squirrels, rats, mice, chipmunks, bugs, etc. One diet or one brand is not normal. Either is feeding once or twice a day.

Remember fidgeting at your sixth grade desk, while your teacher earnestly attempted to teach you about our country’s forefathers and how they created the Bill of Rights?

Now it’s your time to help create the first ever MyThreeCats.com’s version of the “Cat’s Bill of Rights”!
You and MyThreeCats.com will together author this marvelous document, combining our wisdom and experience with cats and creating a veritable Cat Manifesto!

The purpose of this document is to set forth ways in which our cats can attain “life, love, and the pursuit of happiness” in their brief, but meaningful lives. Your suggestions can be serious or humorous, but must ring true about cats and their nature. (Note: all comments will be screened for appropriateness by MyThreeCats.com staff before posting to this website.
By adding your comments and submitting your “Cat’s Bill of Rights” contribution to this blog site, you acknowledge that MyThreeCats.com reserves the right to publish your contribution as part of the MyThreeCats.com “Cat’s Bill of Rights” on any website or print publication owned or not owned by MyThreeCats.com.
Let’s get started.

Listed here are the first five tenets of the MyThreeCats.com’s Cat’s Bill of Rights:

I, cat extraordinaire, have certain unalienable rights:
#1 I have the right to assume my normal position on your lap and stay there for an indefinite period of time, until nature calls, someone opens a can of cat food, or a bug crawls across the floor.
#2 I have the right to walk all over your computer keyboard, !@#$$%^&*(()!! causing you to lose forever that hour long document you’ve been carefully typing and not saving.
#3 I have the right to tear through your bedroom at 3:00AM, knocking over who knows what and scaring the living daylights out of you.
#4 I have the right to decide if, when and where I allow you to pick me up, hug me and fuss over me. The optimal time is usually right before dinner. I will readily accept bribes, I am shameless.
#5 I have the right to send projectiles of litter and other assorted contents out of the litter box when using it, and scratch all the way to China if I so desire.
Now, it’s your turn! Add your comment, and together, we’ll create one of the cat world’s greatest achievements.

Do you know that spending just 15 minutes of quality time with your cat can be a great stress buster and improve your emotional and physical health?

There is scientific evidence. Time spent playing with your cats boosts your production of seratonin, a chemical in your body that increases feelings of well being. Quality time with your cats may also reduce the level of cortisol in your body, a hormone that’s maintained at abnormally high levels when there’s a chronic or continued presence of stressors in your life.

A 20 year study also found that people who owned a cat were 40% less likely to suffer a heart attack. (Source: Purina.com)

Did you know cats have Mew Year’s Resolutions? If cats could talk, here’s what they’d say is their top ten!

😸Take more time out from my stressful day for more naps. (Stressful = staring out the window at birds; following my human around the house; sitting near my bowl waiting for my next meal).
😸Catch any small object that crawls, kill it, then hide it under my human’s bed.
😸Nail that red laser dot this year!
😸Improve my early detection skills when the carrier is pulled out, then, have an emergency hiding plan!
😸Visit every corner of the house to discover even more potential napping spots.
😸Using my staring technique, train my human to go fetch treats/pull out the toys/do anything I want.
😸Perfect the routine of jumping on my human’s device/keyboard when in use, to grab my human’s attention.
😸Not knead my human at 2 a.m. with claws extended. It seems to cause her some discomfort and she wakes up all grumpy.
😸Be irresistible to my human…wait…I am already!
😸Remind my human to frequently shop at MyThreeCats.com for my favorite things and hers, too!